Assam: Girls set scooty on fire under the influence of drugs, detained

Instead of the anticipated sights of fireworks and celebratory lamps, the town’s streets were marred by the sight of a burning two-wheeler, which had allegedly been set ablaze by two young women, aided by a young man in Assam's Tinsukia.

The incident happened when Kuldeep Moran, a resident of Hanshkhati Gandhoiguri village in Kakopathar, parked his Alto on the Kakopathar-Talap Bypass early in the morning. According to sources, Kuldeep, accompanied by two women, Madhusmita Das (27) from Dikom in Dibrugarh and Monalisa Gogoi (23) from Labangkolia in Tinsukia, was allegedly engaging in drug use and other disruptive behaviors on the roadside.

Amid this, Dipankar Moran, passing by on his scooter, unknowingly encountered the group. Reports state that Kuldeep confronted Dipankar, escalating the situation into a heated argument. As tensions flared, Kuldeep allegedly attempted to attack Dipankar with a sharp weapon. Dipankar managed to escape and sought refuge in a nearby house.

Also read: Assam: Elephant calf found dead in Rangapara’s Dhendai tea garden

Following this, Kuldeep and his female companions reportedly turned their aggression toward Dipankar’s scooter, pouring petrol over it and setting it on fire. This alarming act was captured on mobile cameras by onlookers, further intensifying the public outcry.

Once informed, the Kakopathar police launched a rapid operation to locate and apprehend the suspects. Acting swiftly with Dipankar’s assistance, authorities managed to detain Kuldeep along with Madhusmita and Monalisa in a market area under Dikom Police Outpost in Dibrugarh district. The police also seized the Alto vehicle (AS 23 Z 6483) used during the incident. Following formalities at the Dikom Police Outpost, the three suspects were taken to the Kakopathar Police Station for further investigation.

It has come to light that Kuldeep Moran had previously undergone treatment at a de-addiction center in Margherita, raising concerns about the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts. This incident has once again underscored the troubling rise of drug use and related violence in Kakopathar, contributing to an escalating public health crisis, with reports of increased cases of HIV linked to the area’s drug problem.